My Blog this week is about Shore Excursions as a profit center.
There's a bit about how their history and how profitable they are. Feel free to post your comments on the blog with your thoughts on Shore Excursions

Hey the cruise lines might play me as a schmuck, but I've always booked through the ship. As a solo traveler I feel that accountability is working in my advantage. Accountability in that someone officially knows my whereabouts and accountability in that tour operators are subjected to some scrutiny before I get into their van.
I learned my lesson the hard way on land based destinations when I get into "Ahmed's " taxi. As luck would have it, "Ahmed" just happened to have brother "Mahmud" who owned a store which catered to Westerners. Then it was off to cousin "Ali" who sold something else.
Thankfully, I didn't get mugged....or worse. :evil:
Next month I have a tour to Chichen Itza booked and paid for. IMHO...$69 is a fair price for Carnival's tour.

Yeah I watched this thing last night on CNBC about cruises.
The cruise lines get a 40% cut off every excursion. This one couple booked an excursion through the ship and it was $38 a person. If they would've booked it on their own it would've only been $23 a person. The cruise ship got about $15 off each person for that excursion.
In my mind a 40% markup is a LOT. That's why I just don't do them period. I can venture off on my own and have more fun. Then I'm not with a group of people and don't look so much like a tourist.